MANURES. 331 



The foregoing is intended to convey the fundamental ideas 

 which we should bear in mind in deciding what manures we 

 are to use, and in what quantity. It is quite impossible to 

 establish any set of rules which shall be an exact guide for 

 all cases, but the following are always a safe guide : 



1. Apply in the manure the full quantity of the different 

 ash ingredients of the crops that will be produced before 

 manure will be applied again. 



2. Procure from abroad manure containing the full 

 quantity of the different ash ingredients of all produce sold 

 from the farm, mid allow none to he wasted at home. 



A close adherence to these two rules, accompanied by 

 good cultivation, and the draining of such land as needs 

 draining, will make any farmer rich who exercises ordi- 

 nary judgment and prudence in the management of his 

 affairs. 



To speak with scientific accuracy, it is not necessary to 

 return quite all that the crops take away. 



The processes by which soils were originally formed being 

 still in operation, there is a constant fresh development of 

 plant-food in the ground, and this will, in greater or less 

 degree, compensate for the loss by the removal of crops. 



Practically, however, it is best to place this development 

 of fresh matter to the account of improvement, and, by 

 making up the full amount of all removals, to make sure 

 that the land is constantly growing better instead of worse. 



As want of space forbids a more full discussion of the 



